Cite this dataset: Rannamäe, Eve; Niskanen, Markku; Matthews, John A. (2025). Dataset on osteometric and zoometric records of horses. Repository for research data: DataDOI. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23673/re-519.


HORSE MORPHOMETRICS README


*** Dataset on osteometric and zoometric records of horses ***

Authors: Eve Rannamäe (a), Markku Niskanen (b), John A. Matthews (a)
(a) Department of Archaeology, Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu, Estonia
(b) Research Unit for History, Culture and Communications, University of Oulu, Finland
Contact information: eve.rannamae@ut.ee




*** General introduction***

This dataset contains osteometric and zoometric data of horses. It is being made public to act as supplementary data for two publications: Rannamäe et al. 2025a (Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Jupyter_notebook_ENH) and Rannamäe et al. 2025b (Table 3, Jupyter_notebook_Tori_Horse). The research has been financed by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research TK215, and conducted using the NATARC core facility funded by the Estonian Research Council (TT14).




***Publications (short references are found in data tables and this file)***

ARIB = Agricultural Registers and Information Board (ARIB), Republic of Estonia, https://www.pria.ee/en (accessed Dec 23rd, 2025).

von den Driesch, A. 1976. Das Vermessen von Tierknochen aus Vor- und Frühgeschichtlichen Siedlungen. München, Institut für Paläoanatomie, Domestikationsforschung und Geschichte der Tiermedizin der Universität München.

Eisenmann, V. 1986. Comparative osteology of modern and fossil horses, half-asses and asses. - In: Equids in the ancient world, ed. Richard H. Meadow and Hans-Peter Uerpmann. Wiesbaden, Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, 67-116.

Lang, V. 2007. The Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia. Estonian Archaeology, 3. Tartu, Tartu University Press.

Lõugas, L. 1992. Pärnu, Malmö tn. 15 arheoloogilised päästekaevamised 1992. a. Loomaluude analüüs. Archaeozoological analysis report, manuscript in the archive of the Archaeological Research Collection at Tallinn University, AI 5-4-17.

Lõugas, V. & Mägi-Lõugas, M. 1994. Excavations at Pöide stronghold have been finished. - Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Ühiskonnateadused, 43(4), 390-392.

Lõugas, L., Rannamäe, E., Ehrlich, F. & Tvauri, A. 2019. Duty on fish: zooarchaeological evidence from Kastre Castle and customs station site between Russia and Estonia. - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 29:3, 432-442. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.2764.

Malve, M., Viljat, J., Rannamäe, E., Vilumets, L. & Ehrlich, F. 2020. Archaeological fieldwork at Pikk Street and St Michael’s churchyard, Rakvere. - Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia, 2019, 189-212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15157/ave.vi.25198.

Malve, M., Viljat, J., Vilumets, L., Kask, Silvia-Kristiin & Kriiska, A. 2020. Arheoloogilised välitööd Tallinna Vene Mere- ja Maaväehospidali kalmistul (Ravi tn 18) Ida-Tallinna keskhaigla juurdeehituse alal. Excavation report, manuscript in the archive of the Archaeological Research Collection at Tallinn University, AI 1-87-260.

Malve, M., Ehrlich, F., Haak, A., Lõugas, L. & Hiie, S. 2022. Town under siege: The Great Northern war mass graves from the suburb of Tartu. - Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia, 2021, 249-262. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15157/ave.vi.25245.

Malve, M. & Reppo, M. 2024. Arheoloogilised eeluuringud Tartus, Kroonuaia 70, 76, 78/Oa tn 1a. Vahearuanne. Excavation report, manuscript in the archaeology archive of the University of Tartu.

Mägi, M. 2005. Viking Age harbour site at Tornimäe, eastern Saaremaa. - Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia, 2004, 65-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15157/ave.vi.25736.

Niskanen, M. 2022. New methods to estimate body size, conformation and athletic ability of archaeological horses from skeletal dimensions. - Paper presented at the 4th Nordic Zooarchaeology Meeting, Lund, Sweden, October 20-23, 2022. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370766119_New_methods_to_estimate_body_size_conformation_and_athletic_ability_of_archaeological_horses_from_skeletal_dimensions (accessed Dec 23rd, 2025).

Niskanen, M. 2023. The prehistoric origins of the domestic horse and horseback riding. - Bulletins et mémoires de la Société d’Anthropologie de Paris, 35(1), 54-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/bmsap.11881.

Niskanen, M. & Piipponen, N. 2024. We should try to gain more information on size and shape of archaeological horses from skeletal dimensions. - Paper presented at the 5th Nordic Zooarchaeology Meeting, Helsinki, Finland, February
01-03, 2024. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377956998_We_should_try_to_gain_more_information_on_size_and_shape_of_archaeological_horses_from_skeletal_dimensions (accessed Dec 23rd, 2025).

Peets, J., Saage, R. & Maldre, L. 2013. The medieval and early modern smithy site of Käku. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia, 2012, 93-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15157/ave.vi.25033.

Piipponen, N. & Niskanen, M. 2024. Wild and domestic horses differ in metacarpal shape. - Paper presented at the 5th Nordic Zooarchaeology Meeting, Helsinki, Finland, February 01-03, 2024. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377955928_Wild_and_domestic_horses_differ_in_metacarpal_shape (accessed Dec 23rd, 2025).

Rannamäe, E., Maldre, L., Ehrlich, F., Nuut, S., Lõugas, L., Haak, A. & Aguraiuja-Lätti, Ü. 2023. Dataset on zooarchaeological records of Estonian medieval and early modern mammal remains. Repository for research data: DataDOI. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23673/re-443.

Rannamäe, E., Niskanen, M. & Viinalass, H. 2025a. Body size and conformation of the Estonian Native Horse and its ancestral populations. - Cheiron: The International Journal of Equine and Equestrian History, 5(2), 161-195. DOI: 10.22618/TP.Cheiron.20255.1.285008 (available at http://trivent-publishing.eu/).

Rannamäe, E., Niskanen, M. & Matthews, J. 2025b. Hetman - tori hobuse esiisa. Millised teadmised andis tema mõõtmine? - Tõuloomakasvatus, 30(2), 70-73.

Rammo, R. & Veldi, M. 2005. Archaeological Excavations at Musumägi Hill in Viljandi. - Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia, 2004, 103-116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15157/ave.vi.25740.

Roog, R. & Malve, M. 2013. Rescue excavations on the settlement site and rural cemetery of Lohkva, Tartumaa. - Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia, 2012, 241-250. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15157/ave.vi.25043.

Sokolovski, V. 1997. Aruanne arheoloogilistest uuringutest Tallinnas, Roosikrantsi tn 9 ja 11, I. Uuringute tulemused. Excavation report, manuscript in the archive of the Archaeological Research Collection at Tallinn University, AI 1-87-015.

Sukuposti, http://www.sukuposti.net/ (accessed Dec 23rd, 2025).

Tamla T. 1983. Seliše v Pada. - Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Ühiskonnateadused, 32(4), 302-306.

Tvauri, A. 1999. Aruanne arheoloogilistest päästekaevamistest Viljandi Spordihoone juurdeehituse alal 1999. aastal. Excavation report, manuscript in the archaeology archive of the University of Tartu.

Tvauri, A. 2002. Aruanne arheoloogilistest kaevamistest Haapsalus Jaani 4 krundil 2002. aastal. Excavation report, manuscript in the archaeology archive of the University of Tartu.

Tvauri, A. 2012. The Migration Period, Pre-Viking Age, and Viking Age in Estonia. Estonian Archaeology 4. Tartu, Tartu University Press.

Tõnisson, E. 2008. Eesti muinaslinnad. Muinasaja teadus 20. Tartu-Tallinn, Tartu University Press.

Valk, H. 1999. Aruanne arheoloogilistest uurimistöödest Viljandis Suusahüppemäe piirkonnas 04.08.–06.09.1999.a. Excavation report, manuscript in the archaeology archive of the University of Tartu.

Valk, H., Rannamäe, E., Brown, A.D., Pluskowski, A., Badura, M. & Lõugas, L. 2013. Thirteenth century cultural deposits at the castle of the Teutonic Order in Karksi. - Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia, 2012, 73–92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15157/ave.vi.25032.




*** Description of the data in this dataset ***

The dataset consists of six files:

'HORSE_MORPHOMETRICS_README.txt' - this file.

'Rannamäe_et_al_2025_Table_1_Archaeological_data.xlsx' - table that contains measurements and body size/conformation calculations for 384 archaeological horse specimens from the periods of the Late Bronze Age to Early Modern Period (800 BCE to 19th century CE).

'Rannamäe_et_al_2025_Table_2_ENH_data.xlsx' - table that contains measurements and body size/conformation calculations for 44 Estonian Native Horse individuals, born between 1997-2020.

'Rannamäe_et_al_2025_Table_3_Reference_data.xlsx' - table that contains reference data for the Estonian Native Horse, Arabian Horse, Finnhorse, and Tori Horse breeds from published resources (ARIB; Sukuposti). This table contains the source data for Jupyter notebook analyses.

'Rannamäe_et_al_2025_Jupyter_notebook_ENH.ipynb' - Jupyter Notebook containing the Python code for data analysis of the Estonian Native Horse, Arabian Horse, and Finnhorse measurements in Rannamäe et al. 2025a, figs. 10 and 11. This notebook was executed in Google Colab. Please note that the version published in this dataset results in slightly different charts from the ones in Rannamäe et al. 2025a, figs. 10 and 11, which occurred due to different methods to remove outliers. The version in Rannamäe et al. 2025a included extra data that led to excessive removal of certain horses such as few of the archeological ones. However, this does not change the discussion and conclusions in Rannamäe et al. 2025a.

'Rannamäe_et_al_2025_Jupyter_notebook_Tori_Horse.ipynb' - Jupyter Notebook containing the Python code for data analysis of the Tori Horse in Rannamäe et al. 2025b, fig. 8. This notebook was executed in Google Colab.




***Data description***


***Rannamäe_et_al_2025_Table_1_Archaeological_data.xlsx***

*Abbreviations in columns R-JA - measurements*
All measurements and their abbreviations follow standards by Eisenmann 1986, von den Driesch 1976, and Niskanen 2023.

*Abbreviations in columns JB-MZ - calculations for body dimensions*
All calculations performed as in Niskanen 2022; 2023; Niskanen & Piipponen 2024; Piipponen & Niskanen 2024.
If there is a skeletal element abbreviation together with the body dimension abbreviation, it means that this body dimension was calculated based on the measurement of this skeletal element (e.g. WH_CAL means that the withers height was calculated using the measurement(s) of the calcaneus).
WH = withers height
SJH = shoulder joint height
HJH = hip joint height
CaG = forecannon girth
ChG = chest girth
BL = body length
XRW = maximum rider weight
BM = body mass
BMI = body mass index
Fore_fetlockHT = foreleg fetlock joint height
Fore_fetlock_elbow = foreleg fetlock to elbow joint
Fore_elbow_shoulder = foreleg elbow joint to shoulder joint
Hind_fetlockHT = hindleg fetlock joint height
Hind_fetlock_hock = hindleg fetlock to hock joint
Hind_hockHT = hindleg hock joint height
Hind_hock_stifle = hindleg hock joint to stifle joint
Hind_stifle_hip = hindleg stifle to hip joint
CH = croup height
TaH = tarsal height



***Rannamäe_et_al_2025_Table_2_ENH_data.xlsx***

All measurements taken as in Rannamäe et al. 2025a, Figs. 4 and S1.
All calculations performed as in Niskanen & Piipponen 2024; Rannamäe et al. 2025a.
Exact information for the ENH locations and names not given, as the collected data remains anonymous.

*Abbreviations*
WH = withers height
CH = croup height
BL = body length
ChG = chest girth
CaML = forecannon breadth
CaAP = forecannon depth
TeML = forecannon tendon breadth
CaG = forecannon girth
MC = metacarpus
MC2 = metacarpus lateral length (after Eisenmann 1986)
MC3 = metacarpus breadth at the middle of the diaphysis (after Eisenmann 1986)
BM = body mass (calculated based on WH, ChG, and CaG in males and females)
BMI = body mass index
ARIB = Agricultural Registers and Information Board, measurements from up to five different measuring times for each horse



***Rannamäe_et_al_2025_Table_3_Reference_data.xlsx***

** Sheet (1) - Table_3_Original_data_from_ARIB **
Raw data as given from the ARIB registry (in Estonian) for the Arabian Horse (araabia täisvereline), Estonian Native Horse (eesti hobune), and Tori Horse (tori hobune) breeds. Measurement data for multiple measurements per individual is available.
Mõõtmise kuupäev = time of measuring
UELN = Universal Equine Life Number
Hobuslase sünninimi = equine birth name
Sünnikuupäev = birth date
Staatus = sex (täkk - stallion, mära - mare, ruun - gelding)
Tõug = breed
Mõõtmise tulemused = measurements (kämmal - cannon girth, rind - chest girth, turi - withers height)

**Sheet (2) - Table_3_Dataset_for_Python_code**
Contains:
a) organised data from the ARIB registry with only the last taken measurements for each individual (for individuals greater than or equal to 4 years of age) for the Arabian Horse (Arab), Estonian Native Horse (ENH), and Tori Horse (Tori) breeds; and with a few miswritten or missing measurements corrected or excluded;
b) data from Sukuposti.net for the Finnhorse breed (Finn);
c) data from this study & Rannamäe et al. 2025a for archaeological horses (Arch); for more information, see this dataset, Table 1.